How does Eastman’s story contrast with the other Native Americans portrayed?
It isn’t exactly a parallel story to the others, because he does return to the reservation and encounters Sitting Bull and Red Cloud. In the beginning, he certainly knows of them and of their fame, their resistance and tragedy. He’s determined to come back and help them. This is a character that is so important. He hovered between these two civilizations, never finding reconciliation — never being fully identified as an Indian and never being fully identified as a white. His story is symbolic of the conflict, which still exists between the two civilizations. U.S. soldiers were honored at the time for their role in the massacre at Wounded Knee. Do you think this story challenges the notion of heroism? I certainly don’t play up the heroism of these soldiers at Wounded Knee, and certainly not at Little Bighorn, where the story begins. The opening voiceover in the movie is of Elaine Goodale [played by Anna Paquin], a teacher who married Charles Eastman. They were together for many years. I
